If you’re involved in an accident, follow the advice of our Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyers to ensure you protect your rights and give yourself the best chance of pursuing justice from the moment it happens. Since 1959, our highly acclaimed lawyers have helped victims seek fair compensation for their injuries and other damages. We have secured more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, including a $7.5 million verdict for a child injured in an accident, a $4.4 million settlement in a car accident case, and a $1.9 million settlement for a family injured by a 16-year-old driver.
We understand that the scene of a car accident can be a very stressful place. From the damage to your vehicle or, worse, injury to you or a passenger, knowing how to handle a car accident scene before you’re involved in a car crash can be crucial in assuring your and anyone else’s safety.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you should not suffer alone. Car accidents can cause severe damage, and an experienced car accident attorney can help in your recovery. Contact a Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer at Munley Law today for a free consultation.
What Are Five Things You Must Do at an Accident Scene?
Like anywhere else in the country, Wilkes-Barre has its share of car accidents, hit-and-runs, and pedestrian accidents. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Luzerne County saw a total of 3,224 accidents in 2024, of which 18 were fatal, 1,404 resulted in injuries, and 1,802 resulted in property damage only. 
Right after you’ve been in a car wreck, your adrenaline is flowing, which may cause you to react in ways you would not normally. It’s essential to try to stay calm. Car accidents in Wilkes-Barre can bring injuries you may not even be aware of immediately. Here are the top five things you should do to protect your rights after a Wilkes-Barre car accident:
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- Seek Medical Attention: Call 911 and request medical assistance at the scene. You may feel fine, but that could be adrenaline and not the actual situation. You must get checked out by a doctor to confirm whether you sustained accident injuries. Keep detailed documentation of all your doctor’s visits and the medical treatment you receive. These documents can be crucial for receiving compensation in car accident cases.
- File a Police Report: Even if it doesn’t seem like you were initially in a severe car accident, you should still file a formal police report to protect your rights. Under 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3746, drivers must report accidents immediately if they caused injury, death, or property damage that prevents cars from being driven safely. In the case of severe car crashes, police should arrive at the scene immediately and question you, other drivers, and any witnesses. The Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department offers emergency and non-emergency lines. You can also get your police report online or request a physical copy. The police report will be crucial to establishing negligence should your case go to court.
- Get Contact Information. After evaluating yourself and the passengers in your car, you should exchange info such as contact details with the other driver in your Wilkes-Barre car accident. Keep this interaction short and sweet. Do not admit fault or agree to any offers to make the car crash disappear.
- Gather Evidence: Document everything about your accident. Take photos of your vehicle and any damage you see. Look for skid marks, fluids, or anything safe to see around the accident scene.
- Speak to Witnesses: Make sure you talk to anyone who witnessed the auto accident, including pedestrians, other drivers, store owners, etc. Car accidents outside or very close to storefronts may have been caught on security cameras.
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After a Wilkes-Barre car accident, you’ll have doctors and your insurance company to deal with. Make sure you get the compensation you need to recover by calling an experienced Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer to help you through the process and protect your rights after a car accident.
“Since 1959, we have secured over $1 billion in
compensation for our clients.”
Daniel W. Munley
Call us at (844) 686-5397 What Can a Munley Law Lawyer Do about a Car Accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
After an auto accident, your first step should be contacting a Wilkes-Barre car crash lawyer who can help you build your case. The best auto crash lawyers know how to help you deal with your insurance company and insurance policy. An experienced car accident attorney can also guide you through your legal options based on the specifics of your car accident case. Here is how a car accident lawyer can help:
Establishing Negligence
If you can’t prove the other driver was at fault or negligent for the accident, then you have no case. Car accident lawyers gather the evidence to prove you were not at fault. This means you will likely receive more in any settlement, and it limits any fault the other party could try and place on you.
Negotiate Maximum Compensation
A Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer can help you understand how much you may be owed in your auto accident case. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our clients have received millions to recoup their losses. We will gather the evidence needed in your motor vehicle accident case to earn you compensation for things like:
- Medical treatments and any medical bills relating to injuries from the accident
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Long-term care, if applicable
- Lost wages, if applicable
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Contact a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer at Munley Law
Why Choose Munley Law as Your Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer?
Accepting a settlement too soon or accepting fault for a car crash in Wilkes-Barre can leave you unable to recover future losses or pay for the damage already done. Our award-winning car accident lawyers also have experience working with your insurance company after serious car accidents to negotiate settlements. We will also ensure your claim is filed within the two-year period provided for filing these types of claims by Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2).
If you’ve been injured or your property has been damaged in a Wilkes-Barre car accident, there’s a good chance the other driver is going to try implicating you, and insurance companies are going to try to make sure they pay out as little as possible. Those are the last things you need when you’re dealing with emotional distress and trying to focus on recovering physically, which is why you need the best legal representation available. With more than 65 years of experience, Munley Law offers this representation.
You can put your trust in our attorneys with peace of mind. The National Trial Lawyers named all our partners to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania list and named J. Christopher Munley to the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers list, while the Irish Legal 100 named all our partners to its list. Legal Intelligencer named Marion Munley a Pennsylvania Trailblazer. All five partners have been named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, while Marion Munley was named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list. All our lawyers have also been honored by Best Lawyers. In addition, Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey are board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Munley Law’s Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyers are your best allies if your life has been impacted by a collision.
Frequently Asked Questions about What Should be Done at the Scene of a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident
What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Immediately after a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA, call 911 so medical responders can examine you and police can assess the scene and compile a report, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver, and document the scene by taking photos of the vehicles, injuries, skid marks, and surrounding conditions. Next, speak to witnesses and ask them for their contact details. Finally, speak to a Munley Law car accident lawyer before speaking to insurance adjusters to ensure your rights are protected.
Why Should I File a Police Report After a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident?
You should file a police report after a Wilkes-Barre car accident, as these reports are critical pieces of evidence in auto accident claims. Police collect essential information, interview drivers and witnesses, and document the circumstances of the crash. This report becomes a key tool for establishing negligence and supporting your claim with insurance companies or in court.
How Can a Munley Law Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer Help After an Accident?
A Munley Law Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer can help after an accident by gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, consulting experts, reviewing police and medical records, and building a strong case proving the other party’s negligence. They will handle all communication with the insurance companies, ensuring you don’t say anything that could jeopardize your claim. Our lawyers’ goal is to secure maximum compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term care
- Pain and suffering
- Other damages
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
You have two years to file a car accident claim in Wilkes-Barre, PA, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2). If you try to file a claim later than the period allowed by Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, you will not be able to claim compensation for your damages. Our lawyers will ensure your claim is filed long before the deadline.
When Should I Contact a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer After a Collision?
You should contact a Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a collision, ideally within hours or days, not weeks. Early legal guidance helps protect your rights, preserve important evidence, and prevent costly mistakes when speaking with insurers or other parties. A Munley Law lawyer can begin investigating your claim immediately, advising you about medical treatment documentation, and building a strong case for compensation.
Talk To a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Attorney at Munley Law
Call a Munley Law Car Accident Lawyer if You’ve Been Affected by a Crash
Unfortunately, auto accidents are not rare occurrences on our roads. Whether the incident resulted in severe to minor injuries or fatalities, it’s essential to know what to do at a car accident scene. Dealing with police, insurance companies, witnesses, passengers, other drivers, and more can be overwhelming. After thoroughly recounting the accident scene, your first call should be to an experienced car accident lawyer in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
At Munley Law, our car accident lawyers have been helping victims in Northeastern Pennsylvania for over 65 years. We are passionate about ensuring you receive maximum compensation to recover from your injuries. And we don’t make any money unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning personal-injury attorney and champion of plaintiffs’ rights. For decades he’s won multi-million verdicts and settlements and is recognized as a national leader in truck and rideshare litigation,including a record $26 million truck settlement in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a $20 million recovery in 2024 for life-altering commercial-vehicle injuries.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on December 10, 2025.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406
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